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(No'Model.) 43 Sheets-Sheet I. 1W. HQDRIGGS 8v S. SCHROIEDEIB..

. BRBBH LOADINGORDNANGE.

, Patented Feb. 28

(No Model.) y 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. H. DRIGGS & S. SGH'RGEDER.

BRBBGH LOADING'GRDNANGB.

10.378,828. Patented 1Pe1).2818\88.4

jay, 3,

my'. 47mm,

(No Mdel.) 8 sheets-sheet 8.A

W. H; 13181888 8,- s. 80518081188.

BRBEGH LOADING ORDNANGB.

No. 378,828.y Y Patented Feb. .28, 1888.

IFIIIIIIII UIIINNIIIIIIII ff IIHHI l and dotted lilies.

UNITED STATES TENT y Tarea.

WILLIAM HALE Darcos AND sEAToN scnnonnna, oF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT or COLUMBIA.

Basson-LOADING-cantamos.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 378,828, dated February 28, 1888. Application filed January 3, 1888. Serial No. 259,608. (No model.)

scription of the invention, such as will enable vothers skilled in the art to which it appertai ns to make and use the same.

Our invention has for its object certain iInprovements in breech-loading ordnance, and

more particularly in rapid-tiring single-shot guns o f the special construction disclosed in United States LettersPatent granted to .us April 5, 1887, No. 360,798. rlhis object we accomplish by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, wherein the same reference lette'rs and numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts; and our invention consists in. the construction and arrangement or combina` tion of parts hereinafter disclosed in the description, drawings, and claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l represents a longitudinal section of the breech end of the gun and the breech-block, the cam and tiri'ngpin being shown in side elevation and other parts and features in dotted lines. Fig". 2 shows the same with theQbreech-block moved back into position for opening the chamber for theintroduction of acartridge. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of they breech of the gun, with the breech-block closing the chamber and a uumber of other parts and features shown in full Fig. 4 shows a detail side view of the breech-block. Fig. 5 shows a front view of the same. Fig. 6 is a rear view of the cam inv detail. Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively side and rear views in detail of the,

extractor-arm for the right side of the breechblock.- Fig. 9 is a detail side or edge view of the sliding leaf for holding and releasing the firing-pin. Figs. 10 and 11 are biyoken horizontal sections of the breech-block and sliding leaf, saidsections being respectively taken on the dotted lines x :c and yy, Fig. 8. Fig. l2 is a vertical section of a part of the breech-block on the dotted line z of Fig. 1, showing the form of the cavity at that point. Fig. 13 is a broken side view of the gun-breech and the operating -handle, showing the spring-'catch in the latter and the recess therefor in the former'.

In the drawings, A represents the breechblock, which is providedv on'itsv upper surface with bandsaa,which [it into correspondinglyshaped grooves or recesses a a. in the upper A interior surfaceof the gunbreech A', and extend downward a suitable distance within the walls of the ehaniber Af. Y These bands and their grooves firmly hold the breech-block in position and prevent backward movement of Theyaresubstantially the same during firing. the same as those disclosed in ourabove-named patent.

The breech-block Ais formed with a cavity, A", extending from the front toward the v rear, the general contour thereof being repre sented in longitudinal and transverse section in Figs. 1 and 12. Formed in the front part p of the cavity is a horizontal wall, ,l 2, of suitable length, which merges into an upwardlyinclined wall, 2 3, and in the rear upper part of the rectangular portion of said cavity is a` round shoulder, 4, which may be an integral part of the breechblock, as shown, or around pin immovably secured therein, the use of the latter permit-ting more ready slottiug or cutting out of the block. Y l

The central front face of the breech-block containing the vcavity is left open until the lat? ter is finished and ready for use and the cam is introduced, after which said cavity is covered by a strong face-plate, 5, which is held in place by a locking-plug,l 6,'screwed into the same and the cheeks ofthecav'ity. This construction of breech-.block we have discovered to be convenientand advautageous'lnl forming the features or parts interior-ly of thel cavity and in introducing the cam.

In the sides of the breech-block are formed cam or guide grooves 7 7, which are of the shape shown in dotted lines .lin Fig. l and full lines in Fig. 4, their lower or rear walls fr om 8 to 9,being nearly vertical, but slightly inclined forwardly. From the porn 9 said guide-grooves continue on vin curved lines from point 10 to point 11, the two latter points of said grooves being concentric with the axial bolt when in the upper part of the elongated opening in the breech-block, the purposes and functions of these parts and features being hereinafter fully described. Projecting into Said cam or guide grooves 7 7 are guidestuds l2 12, which are secured in the walls of the breech. vThe elongated opening 13, just referred to, is also formed in the breechblock-in its lower portion-and isfinclined upward and forward two or three degrees from the vertical, so as to allow of a downand-up movement of said' blockat a slight inclination. A strong axial bolt, B, passes through said elongated opening, fits in open ings in the walls'or cheeks of the breech, and extends `out beyond the same on the left side,` where it is provided with an operating` handle, b. v y

In the upper part of the cavity in the breechblock, or above the rectangularly-shaped part of said cavity, is arranged the i'ringpin C, which is provided at its rear end with a finger-loop, c, and at its front end with an upturned head, c. On the under side of, thisv firing-pin, toward itsrear end, are respectively formed half and full cock studs, c" and c, and a downwardly and forwardly extending cocking-lug, 6, is arranged near its middle. the top portion of the cavity, above the firingpin, is arranged a spiral spring, D, which has its front and rear ends abutting, respectively, against the upturned head of the firing-pin andthe rear wall of the cavity.

Before applying the face-plate 5 the cam E, firing-pin C, and spiral spring D are introduced through the front of the cavity Al. rIhev breech-block is then placed in the breech, and the axial bolt B inserted and securely keyed orlfastened to the cam, said holt having one end suitably shaped to easily pass through the opening in said cam and the holes in the walls or cheeks of the breech.

In the left upper end of the cam E, and extending its full width, is formed a circular recess, e, whichis struck with the same radius as the rounded shoulder 4. in the cavity of the block. Beneath said recess e, and in the middlel of the upper rear part of the cam, is formed a larger curved and Walled recess,`e, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and in rear view in Fig. 6, which terminates in front at the point e of the cam. This point,'when the breechblock is closed, rests beneath the horizontal wall 1 2 of the cavity, and supports said block in raised position. At the rear lower end of the cam is a toe, e, which, when said cam is turned backward, exerts a downward pressure upon the'lower wall of the cavity in the breech block.

In the rear of the breech-block is located the sliding leaf F, which holds andreleases the firing-pin, and which fits in a mortise cut in the rear face of said block and extending downwardly from the hole for the firing-pin. Side views of this sliding leaf are shownin Figs. 1 and 9, and transverse sections of the same and its mortise in Figs. 10 and ll, which are respectively views on the dotted lines a: :t and y y of Fig. 3. rilhis sliding leaf isinserted' in the mortise from the bottom, and corresponds therewith in cross-section, as shown; but they may be'of any other suitable shape which will hold the leaf firmly and prevent-'it from rearward movement. The'upper end of the leaf isl beveled on the front side, so that the inclined studs c" c on the firing-pin will press it downward when said pin is retracted;

and the rear side of the upper end of said leaf vat the bottom of said recess and held in place by a plug, f, which is fitted in said recess and screwed or otherwise firmly and removably held in position. From the rear faee of the leaf projects a laterally-extending arm, G,

which terminates in alip, g, havinga rounded rear face, as shown in Figs. 1 and 9. A vertical slot, g,is formed in said arm, andascrewstud, g", passes through the same and into the wall of the breech, whereby the verticallysliding leaf is kept in proper' alignment in its mortise.

A small rock-shaft, H, passes transversely through the-right .wall of the gun-breech,and its inner end terminates in a recess in saidwall in rear of but out of line with the side of .the

breech-block. 0n the inner endof said rockshaft is a trip or finger, h, which is normally just in contact with the rounded lip g of the laterally-extending arm G of the slidingleaf F, while on the outer end of said rock-shaftlis secured s; finger-piece or trigger, h', which projects downward beneath the usual, hand- Arest or pistolgrip, h, and which, on being pressed by the nger, causes the trip h to bear down upon the lip g of arm G, and thus slide the leaf F downwardly against the resistance of the coiled spring f and liberate the firingpin C, which then ies forward against the primer and explodes the cartridge..

'lhe cartridge-shell extractor consists of two upwardly-extending arms, I I, provided with lateral pins or pivotsi t', which project into openings in the inner surfaces of the walls of the gun-breech forward of the axial bolt B.

As the breech-block A is flush with or takes up'the whole width of the breechchamber, the

LEO

sides of said block, along its bottom andfront surfaces, have formed therein recessesJ J,

which are of a depth inward from the sides of said block equal to the width of the long or main portions of the extractor-arms l I, sufficient room being provided at the upper ends of 'said recesses to permit theblock to descend slightly along the extractor-arms 'previous to the commencement of itslrotary movement. 0n the inner sides of the 'extractor-arms, along their lower rearwardlyprojecting ends, are

318,828 y v a formed curved projections t" i', which extend into recesses or steps J J', formed along the lower front and bottom partslof the breechblock, and which are still deeper o r cut farther in from the sides of said block than the recesses J J. These deeper recesses. or steps,`

when the breech-block descends to its revolving position, will bring, vtheir upper curved walls, jj, in contact with the curved' projec tions z" i on the inner sides of the extractorarms. These upper walls, jj, of the ldeeper recesses or steps J J are circular :in form for a certain distance, as shown in Fig. 4, and are slightly eccentric with respect to the center of rotation of the block, so that during its rota-j tion, as hereinafter described, said walls will press slightly and slowly againsty the curved projections 'i' i on the inner sides of the lower ends of the extractorarms, and thus cause the heads i i of said arms (said heads beingsuitably fashioned to grasp the 'rims of cartridge shells) to move slowly to the rear and pull the shell along with them. At the rear ends, jj', of the deeper recesses or steps J J the upper walls,jj, hence th'eseabrupt curves, coming in contact with the curved projections on the extractor arms,when the block has rotatedsuiciently to the rear tofully expose the bore ofthe gun, will canse the extractor-heads'i i to suddenly pull or jerk the cartridgevshell and throw the same quickly to the rear.

In an opening formed iu the operating-han dle b, attached to the projecting end of the axial boltv B, .is secured'a spring catch, K, which, as the cam is completing its forward movement and the bore is being closed by the' breechblock, takes into a recess, 1c, formed in the exterior surface ofthe wall of the breech. The rear end of this recess is so sloped as to nottoo much retard the rearward movement of the springcatch when opening the breech, and yet there is sufeient frictional resistance between said spring-catch and the sloping part of the recess to prevent backward movement of the breech-block byjar or concussion arising from the firing of neighboring guns. The

/ ing.

front end of the recess k terminates against a vertical wall, k,which,'in connection with the spring-catch abutting against the same, pre-A vents more rotation of the handle b and cam E than is necessary to close the breech; also, when said catch strikes against said vertical wall a clicking sound is produced, indicating that the breech is com plctcl y closed and secure.

Secured within the interior surfaces of thc breech-walls, audlsuspended therefrom at the cxtreme' rear of the gun-breech, is a strong tray or-suppor t, L, which receives and sus-V4 tains the weight of the breech-block when it is turned back and the bore is open for load- In the center of the horizontal limbs, of this tray or support is formed a recess, Z, through which passes the linger loopc on the projecting Vreareud of the firing-pin.

The operation of the parts of ourinvention,

excepting that which is obvious and before change in curve abruptly downward;

described, is as follows: Fig. 1 represents the breech of the gun as closed, or as'it would appear altern discharge. To open the bore, the handleb is pulled to the rear, which turns the axial bolt B and the cam E When the latter has been turned back a sufficient distance to causeits front point, ef', to pass out from bev neathA the horizontal vwall 1 2 of the cavity A? inthe breech-block, the toe ef of said cani will press down upon the bottom wall of the cavity and force 'said lblock down ward` this movement being permitted by the point e" of the cam moving along the vinclined wall 2 3 of the cavity. After further 'turning the cam, accompanied by the downward movement of the block, its circular recess e embraces the rounded shoulder4 in the cavity, and after this the further rotation of the cam is necessarily accompanied by the rotation .of the block, which by this time has descended far enough for its axial bolt B to move to the upper part of the elongated opening 13, and for the bands a a to clear their grooves a' a in the gun-breech. A-fter this the movement of t-he 'block is rotary and to the reararouud the axial bolt, it being guided by the cam-grooves 7 7 in its sides, in which engage the guide pins or studs 1212, fixed in the walls of the breech. During the first part of the downward movement of the block its camor guide grooves descend over the pins or studs 12 12 until thelatter occupy the points 9 9 in said grooves, and during the further rotary movement of said block said pins or studs successively occupy .the positions 10 and 11 in said guidegrooves, the grooves atV the points last named being concentric with the axial bolt B when in the upper part of the elongated opening 13. To return the breechblock and close the bore of the gun, the handle b, axial bolt B, and cam E are moved forward. At iirst the rounded shoulder 4 remains engaged in the circular recess e of the cam and causes the block to swing upward with said cam. In the meantime the guide-grooves 7 7 in the sides of said block move over the pins or studs 12 12 and change position from point 11 to point 10. On reaching point 10, in consequence of the change of the curves of the grooves, the upper surfaces or walls of said grooves take against the pins or studs 12 12 and are moved upward, thus forcing upward thc'breech-block and disengaging the rounded shoulder 4 from the circular recess e of the cam. When this is effected, the front point, e", of the cam commences to in'ipinge at the point 3 in the cavity, and, the rotarymotion' of the cam continuing, moves along beneath the inclined wall 2 3 in said cavity and forces the breechblock upward. In the meantime thcguidc pins or studs change position in the grooves 7 7,1noving from points 9 to points 8; also, the axial bolt B changes position from the top to the bottom of the elonvgated opening 13. When the pointe of the cam reaches the lower or front end of the inclined wall 2 3, it moves a short distance beyond the same and beneath the horizontal wall 1 2 in the i described spring-catch K on the operatinghandle and the recess la in the outer surface of the breechwall assist in arresting the forward movement of the cam. As the cam E rotates rearward and the block A descends, the'cocking-lug 0 of the firing-pin C takes against the bottom of the curved and walled recessc', formed in the middle'of the upper rear part of said cam, and is moved rearward, the portion of the cam in front of said recess passing'. up

into the curved front part of said cooking-lug. This pushing or retracting movement imparted to the firing-pin is effected against the resistance of the spiral spring D, which is contracted thereby, and said movement is continued until the circular recess in the cam embraces the round shoulder 4 in thecavity, when the relative motions of the cam and iring-pin cease. When the recess e of the cam comes in contact with the round shoulder 4, the full-cock stud c of the firing-.pin has passed the rear of the block and is caught by the sliding leaf F, before described.

As in our former patent,the construction and arrangement of the parts of the breech-block relative to the breech as constructed are such as to resist backward and downward pressure upon the face of said block from the force of the exploded charge. While the general exterior shape of the present breech-block and its movements are the same as in our former patent, the cam in the present instance is placed vin the center of the block, instead of on its side, as formerly, whereby greater ease and power of movement of said cam are obtained,

-and whereby liability to the derangement of thesame andthe parts operated thereby is lessened; also, instead of forming vthe cam with a rearwardly-extending arm at the side of the block with a right-angled extension for retracting the ring-pin, as formerly, we now have a short stout cocking lug on the firingpin, which is pressed back by the main body of the cam, thus doing away with said side arm and its extension, which is dcult to manufacture and liable to injury, and permitting the breech-block to be made larger in the direction oftheaxisofthegun; also,we now have two cam or guide grooves formed in the sides of the breech-block and two stationary guide pins or studs fitted in the walls of the breech, instead of a single cam-groove in one of the breech-walls and a single pin or stud on the side of the block, as formerly, whereby more positiveness and steadiness of movement of the block are secured, and greater strength of the parts and less liability of their getting out of order are obtained; also, in case of failure of the cartridge-cap to obturate or confine the gases in the bore, in which event the firingpin would be violently projected to the rear-e due to the gases rushing through the hole in the faceplatethe thickness of the metal of 7o the'cocking-lug and of the up'turned head -of our firing-pin would prevent the latter being shot out through the ring-pin hole in the rear face of the breech-block. l

Having thus fully described the construction, arrangement, and operation of the various parts of our invention, we claim the following as new:`

1. In a breech-loading gun, the combination 0f a breech-block,which first moves downward in opening, then rotates backward and downward, and which is provided with cam or guide grooves in its sides, the breech-walls provided with guide pins or studs fitting in said grooves, and a cam mounted on an operating shaft or bolt and engaging with and imparting the directions of movement named to said block,substantially as described.'

2. ln a breech-'loading gun in which the breech-block first moves downward in opening, then rotates backward and downward, the combination of a chambered breech formed with openings in its walls, an axial bolt fitted in said openings, a breech-block formed in its interior with a central cavity, a cam secured to said axial bolt and arranged Within said central cavity, camgrooves and pins or studs, respectively, in the block and breech-walls, and means for rotating said bolt and cam and for moving and guiding said. breech-block downward, then backward and downward, and for returning the same to its original position, substantially as described.

3. In a breech-loading gun in which the breech-block first moves downward-in opening, thenrotates backward and downward, the combination of the chambered gun-breech A', provided with grooves in its upper interior surface, -thebreech-block A, provided on its upper surface with bands a a, adapted to t said grooves and hold said breech-block firmly in place, provided with the elongated opening 13, and with a central' cavity, A, in its interior, the axial boltB, fitted in openings in the breech-walls and passing through said elongated opening, the cam E, secured to said axial bolt and located in said central cavity, and means for rotating said cam and, in connection witlithe cam-groove and pins orstuds, respectively-,in the block and breechwalls, guiding said breech-block downward, backward, and then downward, and for returning the same to its original position, substantially as described.

4. In a breechloading gun in which the breech-block firstmoves downward in opening, then rotates backward and downward, the combination ofthe chambered breech formed with openings in its walls, an axial bolt fitted in said openings, a breech-block formed with cam or guide grooves in its sides, with an elon- 13o gated opening, and with an interior central cavity having a horizontal wall, an inclined wall and a rounded shoulder, stationary p'ins or studs secured in the walls of the breech and IIO avanzo y y t iitting in said cam or guide grooves, a cani secured to said axial bolt and arranged within said cavity and formed with an upperV front point, a toe, and a circular recess, substantially as and for the purpose described.

' spring arranged above said tiring pin, and

having its front and rear ends, respectively, bearing against the head of said pin and the rear wall of said block, and a rotary cam for retracting said ring-pin, substantially as dc-. scribed.

6. In a breechloading gun, the combination of a breech-block having a downward move ment in opening, then a rotary backward and downward movement, and which is formed with an interior central cavity, with a tiringpin arranged in the upper part of said cavity` and provided with studs for holding it full orI half cocked, and with a downwardly-projecting cockinglug, tiring-pin seated between an upturned head on the latter and the rear wall of the cavity, and a rotary cani arranged within said cavity vand adapted to come in contact with and retract said iring-pin,substantially as described. 7. In a breech-loading gun,the combination of a breechblock formed with a central cavity, with ring-pin holes in its front and rear walls, and also -with a vertical mortise in said rear wall, a firingpin arranged in the upper part of said cavity and provided at its front end with an uptnrned head, 0n its lower side withacocking-lug Vand full and halfcoek lugs, a verticallysliding leaf arranged in said mortise and adapted to hold said studs when the pin is retracted, a spring arranged above and in contact with said tiring-pima spring arranged beneath said vertically-sliding leaf and a rotary cam for retracting the firingpin, substantially as described.

8. In a breech-loading gun in which the breeclrblock first moves downward in opening, then rotates backward and downward, the combination of the ehambered breech formed with openings in its walls, au axial bolt fitted in said openings, a .breech-block formed in its interior with a central cavity, a cam secured to said axial bolt and arranged within said central cavity,a firing-pin arranged in the upper part of said cavity and provided on its under side with4 studs for holding it full or half cocked, and with a downwardly and forwardly projecting cocking-lug arranged to come in contact with and be operated by said cam for retracting said firing-pin, and means for rotating said bolt and cam, and thereby, in connection with the pins or studs and camgrooves, respectively, in the breech walls and,

an actuating-spring for said` block, moving and'guiding said breechblock I downward, then backward and downward,and for returning-the same to its original position, substantially as described. v

9. In a hreeohloading gun, tiring-pin holding and releasing mechanism, consisting cfa breech-block formed with a vertical mortise and a cylindrical recess, in combination with a coiled spring placed within said recess, a removable plug for closing the lower end of said recess, a sliding leaf fitted in said mortise and having acircular lug extending over said coiled spring, and also having a laterallyextending arm, and means for moving said arm downward,substantially as described.

10. .ln abrcech-loading gun, tiring-pin holding and releasing mechanism, consisting of a breech-block formed with a vertical inortise anda cylindrical' recess, in combination with a spring-controlled firing-pin, a coiled spring placed within said recess, a removable plug for closing the lower end of said recess, a sliding leaf' ntted in said mortise and having a cii cular lug extending over said coiled spring, and also having a laterally-extending arn, and a rock-shaft provided at its inner and outer ends, respectively, with a trip and trigger, substantially as described.

ll. In a brocoli-loading gun, the combination of a breech-block formed with a vertical inortise and a cylindrical recess in its rear face, a spring-controlled tiring-pin arranged in the upper part of said block, acoiled spring placed in said cylindrical recess, avertically-movable leafA arranged in said mortise and provided with a lug project-ing over the coiled spring iu said recess, and means for moving said leaf downward and releasing the tiring-pin, silbstantially as described.

l2. In a breech-loading gun in which the breeehblock first moves downward in opening, then rotates backward and downward, the combination ol the gun-breech A', the breeclrblock A having formed. in its sides, along its front and bottom, recesses J J and lower deeper recesses or steps, J J', the latter having upper curved walls, jj, the cartridgeshell extractor, consisting of the upwardlyextending arms I I, formed to tit said recesses and provided with heads i i, with lateral pivots z' i, working in openings in the breechwalls, and with curved projections iz" on their lower rearwardlyprojecting ends, saidprojections extending into and being operated by said deeper recesses or steps, and means for moving said breech-block downward, then backward and downward, substantially as described.

13. 1n a breech-loading gun in which the breech-block trst moves downward in opening, then rotatesbackward .and downward, the combination of the gunbreech A', the breech block A having formed in its sides, along its front and bottom, recesses J J and lower deeper recesses or steps, J J', the latter having uppery curved walls, j j, mergingl into abrupt curves' j j at their rear ends, the car- IOO IIO

tridgeshell extractor, consisting of the upwardly-extending arms I I, formed to fit said recesses and provided with heads i" i", with lateral pivots i i, working in openings in the breechwal1s, and with curved projections i' i on their lower rearwardlyprojecting ends, said projections extending into and being opcrated by said deeper recesses or steps, and means for moving said breech-block dow nward, then backward and downward, substantially as described.

14. In a breech-loading gun, the combination of a breech'block which first moves downward in opening, then rotates backward and downward, and which is provided with rearwardlyprojecting iring mechanism, with a tray or support arranged at the rear end of the breech and rigidly suspended from its walls and formed with a central recess for the passage of such firing mechanism, substantially as and for the purpose described.

15. In a breech-loading gun, the combination of a breech-blockand mechanism for mov ing the same downward, backward and downward in opening, and for returning the same to its original or closed position,with the gunbreech provided on its exterior surface with a recess which is formed with a sloping or in clined rear surface and with a vertical wall at its front, and a handle for operating the breech mechanism, provided with a spring catch adapted to move in said recess, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

NILLAM HALE DRlG-GS. SEATON SCHRGEDER.

Witnesses for Briggs:

C. A. NEWTON,- EAMILTIER. Witnesses for Schroeder: SGHUYLER DURYEF., TOM R. STUART. 

